Vancouver-based astronomer makes documentary about going to space
Chasing Atlantis is based on the 2011 space shuttle program
Matthew Cimone (left) and Paul Muzzin (right) are working on their documentary Chasing Atlantis featuring Bill Nye (middle) to be released in the next few years. (Submitted)
After Matthew Cimone found out the space shuttle program was retiring in 2011, he started filming Chasing Atlantis as a way of reconnecting to his dream of going to space and watching the space shuttle take off one last time.
Atlantis was the name of the final flight for the space shuttle program. Cimone says the title Chasing Atlantis is more figurative of trying to chase a dream than literal. The documentary started as a way to overcome Cimone’s sense of loss after a missed dream of going to space, but also understanding what was important to begin with.
“What we thought would be an ending became a beginning, it became a whole new story of reconnecting with a childhood dream, a lost dream, in a new way, and in an adult form,” Cimone says.
Cimone is the head interpreter for H.R. MacMillian Space Centre based in Vancouver. But before that, he worked at various places ranging from Science World and Simon Fraser University, to being the co-founder and CEO of Esther’s Echo, a non-profit organization that helps women in Sierra Leone.
He hopes the documentary would be helpful for people who have lost touch with their interests and inspirations. Discovering the program was retiring was a bittersweet moment as it made him realize how far he was from a dream that had once nurtured him.
One of the reasons Cimone wanted to create the film was to figure out why space was so important to him.
Space reminded him of the connection and belonging he had to his grandfather, someone who introduced him to astronomy, as well as our place in the universe and the endless possibilities it presents.
While making the documentary, Cimone realized this project was more than just about the retirement of the space shuttle program. What hid behind was a personal story of him trying to figure out where he belongs.
“I want people to recognize, if they haven’t already, that there’s a difference between a dream and the passion that has inspired that dream,” he says.
Cimone says the best part of making the documentary is meeting insightful people.
“I think finding that sense of commonality between others and speaking with them, and how they go on their own, searching for meaning and belonging was my favorite part of this whole journey.”
He says he wants people to reconnect with the dreams they have let go of and experience a sense of belonging to his story.
“All of these news agencies like ABC, CNN were covering the last space shuttle launch. But when we were there, we cared more about why all these people were there,” says Paul Muzzin, filmmaker for Chasing Atlantis.
Muzzin says it was important to document Cimone’s background to portray who he was, why space was important to him, and thus recommended to include Cimone’s parents and grandfather in the documentary.
He wants to inspire their audience to take a leap of faith every time they face a challenge and treat it as a privilege. He says the purpose of the film wasn’t to make it a documentary, but to connect with people.
They interview famous personalities like Bill Nye, Wil Wheaton, Chris Hadfield, Michele Specht, Rekha Sharma, Story Musgrave, and many others throughout the documentary. Cimone says he hopes Chasing Atlantis will be complete within the next two years.
“For us to be able to share a story that we think other people will be able to relate to was really meaningful and special,” Muzzin says.
